Foldable and storable enclosure

ABSTRACT

A foldable and storable table cover having a foldable frame of a design which folds into a minimum size package and which when erected utilizes the fabric cover to stiffen the structure.

United States Patent Cherubini Feb. 25, 1975 [54] FOLDABLE ANDSTORABLEENCLOSURE 272,875 2/1883 Ggrdon et a1 312/284 526,942 10 1894 Rd 135 5 E 1761 lnvenm" Albert 'E 766 692,501 2/1902 B31136; 135 /5.1 -1Heath, 01110 43055 716,231 12/1902 Hoffmann 150/49 1,608,242 11/1926Sava 135/4 R [22] 1973 2,649,102 8/1953 McDonough 135/1 R [21] Appl.No.: 424,293 2,806,477 9/1957 Fritsche 135/4 R 52 US. c1 312/2s4,5/113,135/4 R, Primary Examiner-Jada" Franklin 135/5 E 135/71 R, 150/49 220/20 /4532, ASSISMMI ExammerConrad Berman [51] Int. Cl A47g 19/30 I,206/4532 A foldable and storable table cover having a foldable frame ofa design which folds into a minimum size [56] References Cited packageand which when erected utilizes the fabric UNITED STATES PATENTS coverto stiffen the structure. 84,381 11/1868 Seaman 135/7.1 R 8 Claims, 7Drawing Figures 113,323 4/1871 Moffitt 13 5/7.1 A

PATENTED I 3868-1555 sum 2 ([2 v r 1 FOLDABLE AND STORABLEENCLOSUREBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to portableenclosures of the type comprising a metal frame having a cloth orplastic sheet covering thereon to protect its contents from the weather,etc., and more particularly to table top covers for protecting food,etc. thereon.

Travelers and outdoorsmen utilize portable structures of the type abovedescribed for temporary protection against the weather and insects.These structures must be light and portable; and the need has longexisted for structures of this type which can quickly be erected anddisassembled. in a minimum of time, and which in the disassembled statehas dimensions which are as small as possible.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is the provision of anew. and improved structure of the above-mentioned type having a foldingframe which occupies a minimum of space in the folded condition.

A further object is the provision of anew and improved structure of theabove-mentioned type for use on a table top for the protection of food,etc. thereon,

, and the cover of which can be quickly installed, and

quickly opened and closed.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates fromthe following description of preferred embodiments described withreference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an oblique drawing ofa covertop for a table embodying principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an oblique drawing of the frame of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the frame shown in FIG. 2, but with the toplongitudinal member removed;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the frame shown in FIG; 3 after the oppositeend hoops have been folded down to complete the first stage ofthefolding operation for the frame;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the frame shown in FIGS 2, 3. and 4, but withthe center hoops folded outwardly to complete the second stage of thefolding operation;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the frame moved into a Z- shape which takesplace during a third stage of the folding operation; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the frame shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, but intheir final folded condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiment ofportable structures shown in the drawings generally comprises aframe Fwhich is so designed that it is kept rigid by the flexible canvas coverC once the cover is slid over the frame and is secured to the base ofthe frame. The frame F base members. The lower ends of the twocentrally. lo-

four hoop-shaped members 14 that are made of the same type of bar as isthe base formed by the members 10 and 12. The upper portion 16 of eachhoop-shaped member 14 is semicircular and thedownwardly extending legs18 therefrom are generally straight and have a length that isapproximately two-thirds of the length of the front and rear base bars12. The bottoms of the left and right end hoop-shaped members arepivotally connected to the U-shaped base members 10 a short distanceaway from the transverse legs 20 of the U-shaped cated hoops are pivotedabout the same axes, and by the same fasteners which connect the basebars l2to the U-shaped base members 10. In the preferred embodiment, thelegs 18 of the center hoop-shaped members 14 are positioned inwardly ofthe base bars 12, in order that the frame can fold into its most compactposition as will later be described. The frame F iscompleted by a topstringer 22 that is connected to the top of each of the hoop-shapedmembers 14 by means of.-

suitable fasteners not shown, and which extend through a hole 24 at thetop of each hoop-shaped member: 14. The top stringer 22 serves thefunction'of holding the hoop-shaped members in their spaced apartcondition but is so flexible that it cannot by itself brace thehoopshaped members in their erected condition.

generally comprises a pair of U-shaped base members I0 the legs of whichextend towards each other. The base members I0 are spaced apart by apair of front and rear base bars I2 that are made of the same bar stockas are the members 10. The bars 12 are positioned adjacent the inside ofthe legs of the U-shaped base members 10 and are pivoted thereto bymeans of suitable fasteners not shown. The frame also comprises As willnow be seen, the ends of the frame as formed by the transverse leg 20 ofthe base members 10 and by the adjacent end hoop-shaped members 14, aregener ally planar. The cover C has a top which is semicylindrical to fitdown tightly upon the upper portion of the. hoops l4, and has planar endportions which fit tightly againstthe ends of the hoop-shaped members14. The ends of the cover fasten about the transverse leg 20 of theU-shaped member 10. The front and rear of the cover C is made byextensions which fit around the legs of the base members 10 and havesnaps which are snapped into fasteners that are carried by the coverimmediately above the base members 10. In like fashion, the ends of thecover fold around the bottom of the transverse legs 20 and have snapswhich are snapped into fasteners in the cover immediately above thetransverse leg 20. The cover, therefore, once snapped into place cannotbe pulled vertically from the base members l0; and when the cover is sosnapped into postion, the hoops 14 cannot rotate out of their verticalposi- -tion. It will be seen that the diagonal distance between the topof the legs 14 on one end hoop and the transverse leg 20 on the oppositeend must increase when the hoops are rotated away from the transverseleg 20,

and that the cover member C prevents this from hap pening. Likewise thecover prevents rotation of the hoops in the opposite direction, sincethe diagonal distance between the left hand loop and the right handtransverse leg 20 must increase and this is prevented by the cover C.-It will further be seen that since the cover extends underneath the basemembers 10 and 12, it forms a type of gasket relative to the surface ofthe table which keeps out bugs, dirt, water, etc..

ingoiaerdtion is accomplished as shown "in Fl'G:.- 4 folding thefleftand right nd hoop members 14;in-

wardly to take aposition beneath the] planeof the has? members l'fi aiid12.-Thereafter"th, cnterfhoops l4 are foldedoutwardly asshbwhiniFlGflSlO a positio'h wherei they lay fupo n theftra'nsyerse leg2013f the shaped members 10. The next stage of'thelfoldihg, open] 'ationis aiccohiplishd byqtajking one ofithe U -shaped members and foldihgit upwardly into l configuration as shown in FIG. 6. In the operation"shown ii'hFlG fi the left hand U-shapedm'e'mber l with the inner andtiontshown iii FIG. '6 is cohtinued tuntil the Us ha. p'e d members lfliare brought down intoggngagomentjwith 1 each other to bring thefrii'm'e in its fully Collapsed con? dition. In the embodiment; shownin' FIG; '7, thxrighlt handh'o'op l4 extendsdownwardlyj nd the topthereof 1 is abutted by the, basement hers I 2 which are inclined?slightlyJas is necessary whehthe basemembers are: on top of'eachothersln theu followin g dtescriptionythof hoops will be designated @as1, 2," 3, and 4 can be thought ofas'roccurringin sequencexfroinoithefr'the left} or right hand side of theifrdme zAssumihgthat'hoop 4ais the'right har d'hoop asshown in F10 '2; iitwillbetin T the bottomposition a sFshown'in FIG. 7,,Hoops Z andflg:

'oute rcleft hand, hoops 14 folded above a d below the 1 baso'mernbgrs10 respectively, is shownrlbcirig swu'ng over the righthand U'sha'pedmember 10.Th-e opera- 1;

able detaihyl do notwishto be limitdto the particular v I I 7embodimentslshown and doscitibdahditismyihten i tion tofcoikerherobyrallhovel;a daptzitions,PmodificaJ I mofWhicltrkzomi=3, withih the ff'practice' of those skilledinthe artfto -whicihthe iniiom tiohrelatffis; and which fall twithifnithe purview: of the 1 tion s, a darrangements 7 followihg clalmsL s,

front and jear center framofb ars; iifld whereby" said 3 are layingontop of eachothe'r andle xtend slightIyupwardly and to theright.Thosehoopsil are in the Y samolplane with hoop 3 laying against thetransv rs e 7 leg of the right hand U-shapedmembcr IOQBecausloK' v"f'the' bottom endof hoop 1 is inline with the tbgsemm-Q t her '12,itrhu'st be bowed slightly so as-tofjcloaror pass I around hoop ,1 Thiscaiileasilyibe donesiiice" the entire clind'ubwardly into 'thedeftandthetop thereof restsi against th transverse leg'ZQ offth left ha nclU'-shapedg memb er 10. in the folded cohdition thelframe is approximatelya squa r tsh opo arid't he cover, likewise can be folded up into a gon crtxlly sq u are shape thgt fitstin sideof the fOrlde d-frtlmfii It can,therefore, boseen that i the colla'psod structure will fit into thissmallest possible space sihc'e'it does not have a foldd length whichli sap 7' preciablyqg roater than itsfolddiwidthaBocausefltablo'sf: I V

t have a minim um width ofapproximately' 26-irihcs, an

idealtable co v eris provided by a frarnehavinga width 'of24s, inches,hoop f spacin'gs of approximately 20 7 inches, and straightlegipo'rtions on thho'ops ,ofapproximately 12 inchesfThis gives aherected stru cture s of approxim atly 2 feet by Stfet and a foldedstructure thatflis approximately lifeet square, i

frani'eonbe folded toio eupy 'a, minimum'of 'space lby t foldingfsaidfir st' andfounth hoopslinvyardly;sid sec f ond andthirdjhoopsfbLitwardly; 'ahd fs'aidj base 5 m a r s ,oollapsed l -lshopewi'thjthe leftar'idtjg'htg df m e s i i tions closely adjacent eachother.

I i V f r fportiofn between th While they inyentionhasjbeendescribed inconsidor- The frame of olainy T he frame of blait'n lgwhrin saidfroiitnd roar ,7 ztaritegrv base bars [are lobate'd; inside of said]U-haped basesectionsm,

3; The time of claim A 1'for'attachnienttotheftoblof oach hoop'rwhen'the hoops f 1 tare i'na vertical]positionrrelativltothohaseqstiotioris; Y s, A 7.' Th ;fram ofclairhffi havin-g agiovcr'f ittirlg the? erectedframe andmmeddovi over awh d aqdfgsf J I Mften'ed to saidbasbars and 'seotioos 7 same frame: ofnclaiin siwh ete nheight; greater thglrii theldistance hetii/eomthepivotalf axi siofsaid'U-shaped basesectiorisdnd the coimcotirig I 250f U16 UShalied basesections i I 7 frame (for {sa ta blooyer and thQlike comprising:shiftaidri'ghtfgenerzillyfleshabfld,ha sof q '{iiOtlS positioned with thcirylgsfextendirlgtoward and s spaced fromea cjh othmifrdntidndrear criterbase bars t s r {with respective endsof oath comer b'aiypivotallys confnested tQ-the ends ofrespectiye frohtjaind rea r legszof' I ,i said leftandrightU shapd basessectioiis;firshsecond; 1 third and fourth ihvortedhowszwith tholowsrendsfof'" thefirstbow beingpit-tried'torespeotive legs of said, left i U-shapedt'bas:sebtioh; withtho lower endsoffsaid I V i fourth bow beihgupihned to' rspsctivlegsofsaid right. t l s U-shapedTbdS vSCtiimgjar diwithfwthr: front; and rear1 s lowor rids of. saiidiseqond arid third bows bein -pivot;lallyvcorincted tosaid b asemombersadjacent,saidVpiV-== otal connectionsat thel l eft 21ndrighte nds of respectiv Y V "wherein said scondfandq;v third hoops aretlocatd detofsaid'centerjbasofbarsfi i I H f whorin said second and 7 third hoops have acommoopivotalaxis Wlithfthatfbol 7[tween saidhase"bars'aitd gU-shapod sejctio sp tl f; StT'heframe ofClaimkwhorihaid:hoops havo gon-f i Ierally "straightiogs that 3116"gelitirzilly p'e rpendicularmto said pivotalaxsfordheighttha iSfpproximately two ts havti I ti r

1. A foldable frame for a table cover and the like comprising: left andright generally U-shaped base sections positioned with their legsextending toward and spaced from each other; front and rear center basebars with respective ends of each center bar pivotally connected to theends of respective front and rear legs of said left and right U-shapedbase sections; first, second, third and fourth inverted bows with thelower ends of the first bow being pinned to respective legs of said leftU-shaped base section, with the lower ends of said fourth bow beingpinned to respective legs of said right U-shaped base section, and withthe front and rear lower ends of said second and third bows beingpivotally connected to said base members adjacent said pivotalconnections at the left and right ends of respective front and rearcenter frame bars; and whereby said frame can be folded to occupy aminimum of space by folding said first and fourth hoops inwardly, saidsecond and third hoops outwardly, and said base into a collapsed Z-shapewith the left and right end frame sections closely adjacent each other.2. The frame of claim 1 wherein said front and rear center base bars arelocated inside of said U-shaped base sections.
 3. The frame of claim 2wherein said seCond and third hoops are located inside of said centerbase bars.
 4. The frame of claim 3 wherein said second and third hoopshave a common pivotal axis with that between said base bars and U-shapedsections.
 5. The frame of claim 4 wherein said hoops have generallystraight legs that are generally perpendicular to said pivotal axes fora height that is approximately two-thirds of the length of said basebars..
 6. The frame of claim 1 having a removable stringer forattachment to the top of each hoop when the hoops are in a verticalposition relative to the base sections.
 7. The frame of claim 6 having acover fitting the erected frame and pulled down over said hoops andfastened to said base bars and sections.
 8. The frame of claim 5 whereinsaid hoops have a height greater than the distance between the pivotalaxis of said U-shaped base sections and the connecting portion betweenthe legs of the U-shaped base sections.